#Greystones - Greystones Sailing Club has described the loss of junior member Laura Dempsey in a drowning incident in Crete as “a harrowing tragedy to happen on a family holiday”.

Dempsey, 15, was found unresponsive in her hotel pool by her parents on Sunday evening (25 June) when they became concerned for her whereabouts, as The Irish Times reports.

Tributes have come from around the community of the North Wicklow town for the popular teenager, who had recently completed her Junior Cert exams.

Greystones Sailing Club Commodore Daragh Cafferky said its members, which include the Dempsey family, have been left “devastated” by the tragedy.

“Laura had a very central role in our club and the loss of a child is deeply traumatic,” he told The Irish Times. “As a family they are a very pro-active family when it came to sports, in particular water sports, so out deepest condolences are with Nicki and John and the extended family at this dreadful time.”

The Irish Times has more on the story HERE.